OK, Bay! I see your point so let me make a change about that boat trip around the islands or at least clarify the point I was attempting to make.
I lived in Hawaii for many years and knew a good number of locals on each of the islands and when you live on a small island for as longs as I did .... during a small part of one's vacation you tend to want to get away from it all ... and that includes the people and the places,
That is one of the prime reasons the locals get off the islands and vacation in LAS VEGAS.
And while I was living there, I actually thought that I had seen it all, but from the side of a ship cruising the islands, you see Hawaii from a different perspective ... a far more beautiful perspective!
You see all the beauty without the ugliness beneath the surface ... no traffic congestions, no over-populated beaches, no over-priced hotels, food, nor booz, etc.
Still I do realize that you fly off to Hawaii as a tourist so our 'views' will always be somewhat different ..... But consider a one week cruise of all the islands with off ship excursions to meet the friendly folks ashore and then the last week spent on the island of your choice ....
I've never seen a more beautiful sight than an off shore view of the lava flowing into the sea .... except for the view of the Na Pali coastline while gliding pass on a glass smooth sea .... except for smoothly sailng past the Big Island where the who damn visual excites the eyeballs. ..., except for the beauty of the pitch black lava surrounding the bright-bright 13th green with the perfect blue of the Pacific in the background .. or the sunsets off of Waikiki after a few too many intoicants at Duke's listening to live Hawaiian music especially when Israel Kamakawiwo'ole strummed his uke with Somewhere Over the Rainbow or I'll Remember You (even those who have passed out earlier come back to life to watch the sun go down and everyone on the beach stands silently in homage to the beauty of it all ... and once it drops below the horizon we slowly wander back to our barfront positions for a couple more rounds and continue watching because the eastward sky is still beautiful for another 20 minutes,
Don't miss Duke's on a Sunday, Bay.
I also suggest a hike into Kololau Valley (spelling?) on Kauai if you want a physical experience of the hidden beauty of Hawaii, a ride to Hana, a two day stay at one of the better Kaanapali Hotels where by the second day ... Everyone knows your name.
And also each of the following providing you have not already done so:
Catarmarran sail off Waikiki Beach.
Two night stay at Kona Village.
A few drinks at Duke's on Sunday afternoon with a stay through the sunset.
See the sunrise and sunset from atop Maunakea
A Mai-Tai at the Ft Durussey beach bar.
A workout at 24 overlooking the Waikii shoreline.
A sunset visit to the bar atop Sheraton Waikiki.
A Zippy's plate lunch or a Spam and Egg morning special.
Check out the two Irish bars downtown Oahu.
A visit to the Pali on a windy day where you can lean 45 degrees or more.
The North Shore on high surf days.
Shave Ice in Haleiwa.
A night tour of the lava flow.
The evening performance at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Hula's.
Deja Vu strip club.
Genki Sushi without a doubt.
But I bet you've already seen 1/2 these places and Hula's much more than once.
But if you want more suggestions ... post it here or send me a message and I should be able to answer anything you may ask. I'm a know it all on most subjects anyway.
